541: Tragic life story

“Wu Zhen... I understand your feelings!”

Tang Ku smiled bitterly and helplessly, “However, even if I had developed genuine feelings for the Queen of the Daughters Country, it would only be human nature. I am a monk; I cultivate the Buddha Dharma and the Dao for the sake of all sentient beings. Personal feelings are not allowed. Furthermore, you and I already have the relationship of Master and Disciple; even in the secular world, this would not be tolerated!”

Wu Zhen could not hide a trace of disappointment in her eyes, but she still pressed her palms together and said to Tang Ku, “Master, what are you saying? I am now a follower of the Buddha and the Dao, and I treat you with the utmost respect. I would never dare to harbor any improper personal feelings... I only feel that by staying by your side, I have the Opportunity to listen to your teachings at all times... I have gained much from studying the Buddha Dharma recently, but I have yet to attain enlightenment. You wouldn't abandon me at such a critical moment, would you?”

Tang Ku was stunned, then immediately pressed his palms together and smiled bitterly, “Fine, since you've put it this way, if I refuse, it would mean I am clinging to appearances.”

Wu Zhen smiled happily and bowed to Tang Ku again, “Then this Disciple will go pack her luggage...”

Tang Ku nodded and watched her leave, but he could not help but smile bitterly in his heart.

“This is what it means to have deep roots of affection, unable to free oneself!”

Tang Xian appeared behind him at some point and smiled faintly.

“Nonsense!”

Tang Ku rolled his eyes, “Have you finished packing your things?”

“There's nothing much to pack. I just need to tap my belt, and everything is stored in the space!”

Tang Xian patted his belt buckle and then said, “Seriously, this foreign female Disciple of yours is truly beautiful. In terms of appearance, the vulgar women of the mortal world cannot compare to her at all. In my opinion, only my few aunts could securely surpass her.”

“How about I let her return to secular life and go with you?”

Tang Ku curled his lips and said, “Do you even know who she is to be spouting such nonsense?”

“Who is she?”

Tang Xian asked gossipingly.

“She is Aphrodite from Greek mythology!” Tang Ku curled his lips and said, “Now you know why she is so beautiful!”

“...”

Tang Xian suddenly jumped up, shocked, “You... who did you say she is?”

“Aphrodite... Hehe, even if you have heard this name, you don't need to be so surprised, do you?”

Tang Ku frowned slightly, “What exactly do you know?”

Tang Xian suddenly calmed down, thought for a moment, and said, “I finally understand why she is so attached to you... Sigh, what a tragedy... I never expected her to become your Disciple. A Greek goddess actually becoming a follower of the Buddha's sect—who would believe this if they heard it?”

“What do you know!”

Tang Ku rolled his eyes, “It was by some Opportunity that I subdued her and let her enter the Buddha's sect to cultivate. Could it be that she has some unknown past?”

Tang Xian looked at him suspiciously, “You really don't know her true identity?”

Tang Ku frowned slightly, “I have long heard of her persona as the Goddess of Love and Desire. Is there anything strange about that? She is now a follower of the Buddha's sect; you must not discriminate against her because of that!”

Tang Xian shook his head helplessly, “It seems you really don't know... The Greek mythology you've heard is completely different from her experiences. Actually, she is a truly pitiful person. From her birth to her final end, she is a very tragic existence... Some say she is promiscuous, some say she betrayed her husband, but in reality, these are all slanders by the Greek gods against her. She herself is a very strong-willed woman. Back then, Zeus pursued her because of her beauty, but she sternly refused him. That is why that old bastard Zeus spread rumors everywhere, causing her reputation to collapse. He even drove the ugly and lame blacksmith god of fire, Hephaestus, to defile her. In the end, forced by circumstances, she had to marry that ugly wretch!”

“Uh... is there any real evidence for what you're saying? Why does it sound so Xuanhuan to me? It's just like... just like...”

Tang Ku frowned slightly.

“It's very similar to the rumors on the internet, right?”

Tang Xian shrugged helplessly, “My father has come into contact with more gods than you have ever seen. Regarding Aphrodite, there are many legends in the original Universe, but there is almost no positive news. My mother hates evil with a passion and cannot stand wives who are unfaithful to their husbands or husbands who cheat during marriage. When she first met Aphrodite, she discovered that she was a pitiful woman... The two of them talked about everything and became best friends. It was only long after that she learned from her the stories that happened among the Greek gods... Hmm, the hidden stories!”

“Wait... wait a second... do you mean that in the original Universe, there is also an Aphrodite?”

Tang Ku pinched the space between his eyebrows, “Why do I feel... a bit confused?”

“It's not confusing at all... You just need to understand it as another Clone from a parallel Universe... Hmm, but the developmental trajectory is basically the same!”

Tang Xian said.

“It is rumored that Zeus is promiscuous and philanders everywhere because she cursed him. Now it seems... that is also fake?”

Tang Ku said in a deep voice.

“Of course it's fake!”

Tang Xian said disdainfully, “Zeus's magical power is so strong; do you think she could cast a curse on a God King? Hehe, it's just that stallion trying to shirk responsibility by using her as a scapegoat...”

“Hehe, judging by the nature of the gods in Greek mythology, this wretch Zeus is indeed capable of doing such a thing!”

Tang Ku sneered, “I really regret not punching that old bastard a few more times back then...”

“The so-called infidelity is actually just those powerful gods coveting her beauty and being unable to obtain it, ultimately using coercive means to force her... Then they spread the word that she is promiscuous, confirming her reputation for lewdness! Later on, she succumbed to the threats of the gods, and even let herself go, using her own body to perform tasks assigned by the gods, such as seducing someone...”

Tang Xian sneered disdainfully, “A bunch of scum pseudo-gods, pfft!”

Tang Ku was silent. In fact, he also understood why Wu Zhen was so attached to him. Because Tang Ku was the first powerful god who did not focus on her beauty, and he cared for her in everything, never forcing her to do anything... Rather than saying her feelings for him were like romantic love, it was better to say it was like a form of family affection, because she felt genuine care from Tang Ku, like the care of a father or brother!

Tang Xian said: “This is what they mean by 'beautiful women often have tragic lives.' For her to have the Opportunity to return to the right path in this life is already Karma!”

Tang Ku suddenly felt more open-minded, and then smiled, “I understand... When Wu Zhen said she had gained insight into the Buddha Dharma, it wasn't an excuse to follow me... She truly has gained enlightenment in the Buddha Dharma... Well done, well done; it was not in vain that I taught her with such earnest advice!”